The Book of Harlan Quotes

“Prison had a way of draining people of their hope and humanity. But Harlan didn't have to worry about that because he'd gone in empty.”
― Bernice L. McFadden, The Book of Harlan

“You can't expect a child not to become a product of his environment. If you're a drinker, you'll raise a drunk. If you're a single mother, traipsing men in and out of your bedroom in front of your girl child - mark my words, in time she'll claim a corner and charge money for what you gave away for free. Kings and queens raise princes and princesses. That's just the way it is.”
― Bernice L. McFadden, The Book of Harlan

“To Harlan, New York City was as chaotic and thrilling as the three-ringed circus that came through Macon each spring.

No matter which direction his head spun, there was something new and exciting to behold: white men with long beards and black hats as tall as chimney stacks; poor people begging for money; rich people walking white poodles tethered to long leather leads; blind people tapping walking sticks; fat people munching soft, salted pretzels; and middle-of-the-road people like themselves.”
― Bernice L. McFadden, The Book of Harlan

“It was in his high school music class that he first became acquainted with a battered caramel-colored Stella Parlor. When Harlan raked his fingers over the six strings, his entire body vibrated. He'd never thought of himself as incomplete - one half of something he could name - but there it was, the very thing that had been missing from his young life.”
― Bernice L. McFadden, The Book of Harlan